Tundra:
Where is the tundra located?
The tundra is located in the upper northern hemisphere, just below the polar seas at 60-70 north latitude.
The tundra is located in the upper northern hemisphere, just below the polar seas at 60-70 north latitude.
What is the climate like in the tundra?
The climate in summer is between 3°C and 12°C and during the winter is -20°C to -30°C. The precipitation is less than 25 cm a year!
The climate in summer is between 3°C and 12°C and during the winter is -20°C to -30°C. The precipitation is less than 25 cm a year!
What are the physical features of the tundra?
The tundra always has a layer of permafrost which is a layer permanently frozen soil! The tundra’s flat terrain results in poor drainage, which creates many pools and marshes during summer. The winters in the tundra are long and dark but in summer there are mostly 24 hours of daylight.
The tundra always has a layer of permafrost which is a layer permanently frozen soil! The tundra’s flat terrain results in poor drainage, which creates many pools and marshes during summer. The winters in the tundra are long and dark but in summer there are mostly 24 hours of daylight.
Plants, animals, and adaptation
No trees grow in the tundra since the growing season is way too short to support trees and their roots are not able to penetrate the permafrost although the plants growing close to the ground like grasses and mosses survive. Staying close to the ground makes them able to absorb the warmth from the ground and and get sheltered from the wind. Some of the flowers in the tundra protect themselves from wind by having fuzzy coverings on steams and leaves.
No trees grow in the tundra since the growing season is way too short to support trees and their roots are not able to penetrate the permafrost although the plants growing close to the ground like grasses and mosses survive. Staying close to the ground makes them able to absorb the warmth from the ground and and get sheltered from the wind. Some of the flowers in the tundra protect themselves from wind by having fuzzy coverings on steams and leaves.
Animals living in the tundra have adapted to the harsh conditions in the north. Animals like Arctic foxes and hares have smaller and compacter bodies compared to kinds of their race living in warmer regions. Their compact body prevents their body from loosing heat and energy. Furthermore, the reproducing rate of animals in the tundra is lower then anywhere else on the world which once again saves energy! Animals like caribou, migrate thousands of miles to food sources they need to survive. At last, the probably most known adaptation is to change the fur to white in winter which makes it harder for other animals (predators!) to see them! Animals like the Arctic fox, hare, and owl are some examples of animals that change their fur in winter.